Money troubles

[elusivek]

Not really troubles, just poor timing of certain events.

So last week, the day I went to the bank with my Mom, we opened a Hong Kong dollars account so that the interests from a certain time deposit can be deposited into that account, and I have no HKD account.

I couple days later, I felt sorry for that account having only roughly HKD $4000 in it, so I placed most of the HKD cash I had on hand into the account. My friend started to pay me off all the flights and bookings and shopping stuff we did, and she paid in HKD, so I had a lot of it. With the HKD account at HKD$24000+, I felt better for the account, as I fed it. That was Friday.

Today, my friend says her aunt (who works at a currency exchange house) had British Pounds on hand, and that I should go today for the exceptionally good rate. So I did, but I deposited all my HKD already, so I had to get more from the ATM, BUT I had to get it converted from my MOP account as my HKD account does not have ATM access.

In Macau we have our own currency, the MOP (Macau/Macao Pataca), but when it comes to currency exchange, we usually do in HKD as the HKD is pegged to the USD and blah blah and whatnot (but then in the past, Hong Kong was a British colony, don't ask me why the currency is pegged to the USD).

I originally didn't want to change any GBP as I thought I'd use the remaining GBP I had from my last trip 5 or so years ago, but then I checked, I only had GBP £70 to my name, it wouldn't help me much, so I had to change. I intend to change another £1000 or so, or maybe not, as the accommodation is paid for... I'll decide nearer the date.

Anyway, I'm this rich in GBP now, LOL

But looking at the cash notes now, I noticed I have a different £50 note. Can anyone tell me if the top one is still in circulation? The top note is my leftover money from last time, and the bottom one I got new at the currency exchange today.

And talking about money woes, I was told today that I have an expired HKD note. Bollocks... It's not a lot of money, but still, it's annoying. Because it's a Hong Kong note, I can't do anything with it here. I'd have to go to Hong Kong, to a bank, then have it exchanged.

The stupid note in question. I wonder when I received it. Arrrrggghh....

So it is Sunday and of course we went out with the dogs to Coloane again. This time we took a route that didn't have a clear path, it was really interesting, seeing old defunct empty reservoirs, concrete pipes lying around, and obviously man-made-but-unfinished-things hidden within thick weeds and fall leaves.

Comments

[imogen-blue.livejournal.com]

Argh, what a horror. I have enough problems with one currency, I'd go crazy coping with three. :(

[notte0.livejournal.com]

it's not so bad really as daily we really only deal with 1 currency, and Hong Kong dollars and China Renminbi are dealt with a 1:1:1 rate in shops (though, there IS a proper exchange rate at banks).
I hold a stash of other currencies for when I go on holiday, and that is sometimes a headache too, as I have to keep track of exchange rates and change when a rate is good.

[backyard-birder.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness all that money stuff sounds super confusing!

[notte0.livejournal.com]

haha daily I deal with only 1 currency, but I do hold a stash of Hong Kong dollars, Euros, Thai Bahts, Japanese Yens, China Renminbi and Taiwan Dollars... and now British pounds.... all that for when I go holidaying in the respective countries.

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

I have only ever held £50 notes twice in my life, so I would have to Google it. Some small places don't take them because of counterfeit issues.

[notte0.livejournal.com]

That's why I'm glad I only have 2 notes of that. The rest are mostly £20 notes.

I didn't think to google notes in circulation! i shall go do that now. thanks for the heads up!

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

Bigger places take them, it's just worth bearing in mind before you go into a small shop or cafe.

[notte0.livejournal.com]

I just found out the older note I had has already been discontinued earlier this year in April (or maybe it was April 2014). Pity. I'll have to find the time and see if banks will exchange them or not.

[crazybellatrix.livejournal.com]

I'm so broke. I need money. -Grabby hands-

LOL.

I don't know how you can cope with all those currencies. I struggle so much trying to cope with Sterling. I'm just so terrible at budgeting =S

[notte0.livejournal.com]

it's not that bad. the Hong Kong Dollar and the Macau Pataca are almost 1:1, it's only at banks that there is an actual rate.

And the reason I'm dealing with British pounds is because I'm flying to London in January. Otherwise, the currency I use daily is just the Macau Pataca.

That being said, it is not uncommon for people here to keep a stash of other currencies for when we go holidaying... so, maybe I'll give you a potential headache by saying that I have separate stashes of Euros, Japanese Yen, Thai Baht, Chinese Renminbi and Taiwan Dollars.... ;-)

[crazybellatrix.livejournal.com]

That's so awesome! What will you be doing in London? {This is where I live, btw?} I mean, are you coming here for holiday or to live?

I always have Euros lying around. Just coins, though. I've got Turkish, Moroccan, Norwegian currency lying about as well as I've travelled to those places recently.

[notte0.livejournal.com]

I'm just going to London with a friend for some 9 or so days, for holiday XD I'm still not sure how the itinerary pans out to be, but the confirmed stuff are 2 shows (Phantom and Les Mis, my kind of thing) and some 5 afternoon teas (my friend's kind of thing, and I think she went overboard on that) and there's one day where we will go visit Windsor castle. The rest are pretty much museums, tea shopping, museums, camden town maybe, museums XD

Anything in particular you would suggest for us to do?

[crazybellatrix.livejournal.com]

I would pick Phantom and Wicked. =P

Oh my, where do I begin?

When in January are you coming here? If you're going to be here before the 3rd, then I'd definitely go to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. It's a wonderful event to attend- AND it's free admission.

As for museums, I'd definitely go to the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, The Wallace Collection {http://www.wallacecollection.org/}, Tate Britain {http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain}, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery. . .

You can't come to London and NOT go to a traditional pub! These are the pubs I'd recommend: Prospect of Whitby in Wapping, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye_Olde_Cheshire_Cheese}, Ye Olde Mitre, The Bell Tavern on Fleet Street, Dickens Inn in St Katherine's Dock, and if you can find it, The Speaker in Westminster.

Of course there's the main attractions; Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Southbank {http://www.southbanklondon.com/}, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, etc..

The Tower of London and Tower Bridge is a must-see!

Greenwich is a wonderful place to visit, especially when you take the boat on the Thames there. {Thor: The Dark World was filmed in Greenwich, yo!} If you get the chance, see the Cutty Sark {http://www.rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark}, and don't forget to have a pint at The Gipsy Moth pub next to it! The Maritime museum is wonderful. Climb to the top of the hill, and you get a wonderful view of the City.

The Parks are lovely to visit. I recommend Regent's Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Holland Park, St James' Park, Green Park.

If you want to grab a good pub lunch, Wetherspoons do a decent meal, and it's not too pricey. Canary Wharf is not bad to visit. As I mentioned Wetherspoons for food, The Ledger Building. {https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-ledger-building-docklands}

The Sherlock Holmes Museum {http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/} in Baker Street is a lovely visit. The Sherlock Holmes Pub {http://www.sherlockholmes-stjames.co.uk/} just off Trafalgar Square is a good place for a drink and food. They have a mini museum upstairs.

Camden Town is good during the day for the Camden Lock Market. The World's End pub by the station is quite quirky. If you can find The Dublin Castle, that's not a bad pub either. There's a cool Starbucks by the canal. It's round and just before you cross the bridge, so you can't miss it.

As for markets, Borough Market is another good one to go to.

Harry Potter fan? Go to the Harry Potter tours at Warner Bro's Studios. You get the train to Watford, and then hop on a "Harry Potter bus" that will take you to the Studios. {https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/}

Not many people know of this one but Sky Gardens {http://skygarden.london/} is a good place to go to see wonderful views of London and have a cuppa coffee.

If you enjoy shopping, Harrods and Selfridges are pretty places to visit. Sloane Square is also pretty good for shopping or just strolling around. There are nice cafés.

I've probably missed out on some important sites, but I'd suggest just to explore the town, and you'll come across lots of interesting things ♥

{Here's a list of some weird stuff you can do here in London: http://curious-london.co.uk/bucketlist/}

And, of course, this weird bar: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2980851/A-commute-cocktails-Inside-London-s-latest-bar-designed-like-1940s-Tube-station-located-WW2-air-raid-shelter.html {Website: http://cahoots-london.com/}

I hope this a list for ya! If you want to ask me anything or want to know about anything? =D

Edited to add some links~

[notte0.livejournal.com]

How did I miss this reply? Notifications went down for a while?

OOOOHHH I forgot about The Ritz! But of course! *smacks head* I told my friend I wanted St James' park on our itinerary (erm... Good Omens fan, so I wanted to go feed the ducks like in the book)... I forgot The Ritz.

I did give Wicked as an option for my friend, but she's more inclined to Les Mis (She hasn't heard of Wicked). If we find a spare evening we might go see Wicked.

Pity about the Harry Potter thing, my friend is not a fan, so I guess I'll just have to make do with seeing King's Cross :-(

I've already been to the Sherlock Holmes Museum before, but I'll keep a lookout for the pub.

ooooh I'm so going to print your suggestions and show my friend so she can consider some stuff :D

[crazybellatrix.livejournal.com]

You're not alone. I sometimes miss them, too D=

I walked past The Ritz earlier.

Les Miserable is all right, but I warn you that it's very long.

I believe there's a Harry Potter at King's Cross.

Awesome! =]

[crazybellatrix.livejournal.com]

PS: Speaking of tea houses, Whittard {https://www.whittard.co.uk/} and The TEAHOUSE {http://www.theteahouseltd.com/} in Covent Garden are great ones to visit.

The Whittard just off Piccadilly Circus has spaces inside where you can sit down and enjoy a tea. The TEAHOUSE doesn't have a place to sit from what I can remember. You just go there and buy the tea. Lol.

Patisserie Valerie is a high recommendation: http://www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk/

Tea places in London: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/london/9124793/Londons-ten-best-afternoon-teas.html {The Ritz, yo!}

. . . and now I'm in need of tea!